Gabriel’s Desserts, Marietta GA

While Marie and the kids were out of town, I went to try a newly-opened pizza place in Kennesaw. It was awful.

Friday night, well, that was quite fractious. I had a pair of possible plans. One of them required for some long overdue money to appear in my mailbox. If it did, I was going to treat myself to another long drive and an overnight stay somewhere. Since it did not, I just made a day trip out of it on Saturday. Rather than planning anything, I decided to just settle in Friday night with a book and eat somewhere in Marietta whenever I got hungry. This proved, eventually, to be Dave Poe’s BBQ on Whitlock, where I had a really decent supper. Continue reading “Gabriel’s Desserts, Marietta GA” →

Las Tortas Locas, Marietta GA

About a month ago, when I was having some Mexican-fare lunches on Buford Highway, I mentioned that I owed Las Tortas Locas another visit. On that occasion, I got so wrapped up in the book that I was reading that I genuinely did not pay any attention to the food that I was eating. Plus, I deprived myself of what looked like a terrific salsa bar. Continue reading “Las Tortas Locas, Marietta GA” →

Ice Castle, Dalton GA

Earlier this year, while looking for some background information about the Kay’s and Kay’s Kastles chains – see our post about the lone remaining Kay’s Kastles, north of Chattanooga – I came across a really fun site called Roadside Architecture, whose owner has a great hobby that we can all appreciate: driving all around the country taking photos of silly old signs and novelty architecture. That sounds like too much fun for words. Continue reading “Ice Castle, Dalton GA” →

Pure Sodaworks, Chattanooga TN

One day early this summer, one of those little recommendations on the right-hand side of Facebook actually proved useful. It suggested that I look at something called Pure Sodaworks, and I’m glad that I did. Last year, Matt and Tiffany Rogers and their friend Shawn Clouse opened a little storefront on Chattanooga’s River Street, and also put a cart together to go join the food trucks, wherever they roam. They’re making some very clever and very tasty soda concoctions from an old-fashioned jerk pump, squirting the syrups and mixing them with bursts of soda water. They use natural cane sugar along with “organic ingredients, locally sourced fruits, and focus on funky flavors,” and are in the process of attracting investors to get their bottling operation up and running. Continue reading “Pure Sodaworks, Chattanooga TN” →

The Greater Good Barbecue, Tucker GA

It has been several weeks since we last mentioned a barbecue place in our blog! We have, recently, been enjoying some pretty good ‘cue, but at places that we’ve visited previously. In July, we enjoyed stopping by Bub-Ba-Q, Ebony & Ivory, and Big Shanty Smokehouse. A couple of weeks ago, Marie and the baby and I also visited a very new place that opened in Tucker last month. The Greater Good Barbecue is owned by Clay Harper and Mike Nelson, who own Fellini’s Pizza and La Fonda Latina, and are, I believe, co-owners of Ringside Franks & Shakes, all of which we enjoy and have also featured here. (I’d link you, but too many blue words in a single paragraph is bad for your eyes, you know. Seriously.) Continue reading “The Greater Good Barbecue, Tucker GA” →

Maison Robert, Chamblee GA

This is Marie, writing a very small article about a very small chocolate shop. You knew I’d have to come back to sweets, right? Anyway, there is a chocolate shop in Asheville that is my true favorite, but I will cheat on them occasionally with Maison Robert now that we have become acquainted. Continue reading “Maison Robert, Chamblee GA” →

A Short Stop at AthFest 2012

In the previous chapter, I wrote that we took a quick trip to Athens. It wasn’t on the agenda, but Marie heard a feature on NPR about how Elf Power, one of my favorite bands (it is a very long list), would be playing at the annual AthFest downtown. We hadn’t been to AthFest in many years. I’m reasonably certain that the last time we were in attendance, those “goin’ to Hell” Westboro-wannabes that try to ruin Bele Chere in Asheville every year hadn’t heard about it yet, but they’re out in force now, being jerks. Continue reading “A Short Stop at AthFest 2012” →